2 Key features of the Thinking Science programme

There are thirty lessons for pupils aged between 11 and 14 years;
The timetabled one hour ‘intervention’ lessons are used once a fortnight over two years;
Each Thinking Science lesson has a specific focus for promoting logical thinking – the reasoning patterns;
The programme runs parallel to, but does not replace, other science lessons which give curriculum coverage; There is a particular teaching model involving careful and strategic use of group work, whole-class teaching to ‘set the scene’ and whole-class teaching to stimulate the construction of new ideas; Teachers deliberately attempt to cause cognitive challenge so that children (and teachers) work in their ‘discomfort’ zone;
A good understanding of the psychology underlying the lessons is helpful so that teachers can respond to pupils’ needs without reducing the level of appropriate cognitive challenge; Practical work is used to ‘set the scene’ and generate data for analysis.

It is not used to teach scientific knowledge or develop investigative skills.